A Season of Harvest: Reflections Beyond Borders

As we move deeper into the season of falling leaves, lengthening nights, and shifting light in the Northern Hemisphere—and toward blossoming spring and rising warmth in the Southern Hemisphere—we’re reminded that our global community moves through the year in many different ways. No single cultural lens defines this moment for all of us, and yet the cycles of the Earth offer universal invitations: to reflect, to gather, and to acknowledge the interdependence that sustains us.

In the United States, this time of year coincides with Thanksgiving. For some, it is a day of gratitude and togetherness. But Thanksgiving also carries a history that must be spoken honestly: a story of colonial violence, betrayal, dispossession, and enduring harm to Indigenous peoples. The romanticized narrative of harmony at the “first Thanksgiving” hides the realities of genocide and forced removal that followed. Recognizing this truth honors those whose lands were taken and whose cultures survive despite immense injustice.

Within our community, we aim not to overlook these realities, nor to adopt holidays uncritically, but to engage with them in ways that are respectful, globally aware, and grounded in integrity.

So rather than centering a single nation’s holiday, we choose instead to reflect on something broader—and shared.

Wherever we live, this is a season that reminds us of cycles.

For many in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a time of harvest, preparation, and gathering warmth for the winter ahead. It asks us to slow down, to appreciate what we have cultivated, and to acknowledge the support—human, ecological, and spiritual—that has allowed growth to occur.

For those in the Southern Hemisphere, the world is opening outward. Buds, blossoms, and longer days speak of renewal, possibility, and beginnings. It is a season that calls forth creativity, outward energy, and the emergence of new life.

These opposing seasons mirror the diversity of our global movement: many paths, many experiences, and yet shared rhythms of expansion and rest, of sowing and reaping, of learning and releasing.

Wherever you are in the world, we invite you to use this moment to reflect on three universal themes:

1. Gratitude that does not ignore truth

Real gratitude is not about pretending everything is perfect; it’s about acknowledging what is real and giving thanks within that honesty. We honor the land we live on and the histories it holds.

2. Harvesting the fruits of our efforts

We all carry something we have tended this year—whether a relationship, a creative project, a healing process, or a new understanding. What have you grown? What can you now gather?

3. Preparing for what comes next

In nature, no season is final. Whatever season you find yourself in personally—closing, opening, resting, or becoming—this is a moment to step with intention into the next chapter.

As a global community, our strength lies in recognizing both our differences and our connections. Seasons unfold around us in opposite directions; our histories are varied; our cultural moments distinct. Yet we share the desire to grow, to understand, and to move through the world with compassion.

Wherever you are today—under a blooming sun or a sky of drifting leaves—may this season bring you reflection, resilience, and a grounded sense of belonging.